486 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



established a factory for spinning woollen and cotton thread 

 and twine for herring nets ; brought over some East Coast 

 fishermen with Orkney yawls to teach the people ; erected 

 a boathouse capable of containing nine boats with their 

 tackle ; advanced money for boats ; furnished the fishermen 

 with necessities at cost price ; provided them with cottages 

 and potato ground rent-free ; and paid full market value 

 for their fish. He also restored the church of St. Clements ; 

 built a school-house and an inn ; constructed roads from 

 his two quays to the village, and thence to the west side of 

 the island ; introduced improved mills ; and in other ways, 

 endeavoured to revolutionise the economic conditions of 

 Harris. In the face of much ridicule, he successfully 

 demonstrated the truth of his theory, that the development 

 of the herring fishery was retarded by the custom of 

 searching for fish in the lochs only. The high duty on 

 salt and coal, and the vexatious regulations affecting their 

 import, troubled him not a little. On one occasion, he 

 bought a cargo of coals from Greenock, the duty on which 

 he offered to pay to the Custom House at Greenock, but 

 the offer was refused. The sloop sprang a leak during the 

 voyage, and his factor, on her arrival, deemed it advisable 

 to discharge the cargo, instead of sending her to Stornoway 

 for Custom-house purposes. He accordingly notified the 

 Collector of Customs in Stornoway of his intention, and 

 desired him to send an officer to superintend the discharge. 

 In the result, however, the cargo had to be re-shipped at 

 Rodil, sent to Stornoway, where it was again unloaded, 

 and then re-shipped back to Rodil, and discharged for the 

 third time.* 



This enterprising proprietor was no less energetic in the 

 Metropolis. He was one of the founders of the Gaelic 

 Society of London, and was a prominent member of the 

 Highland Society. Harris was the poorer by his death, 

 for his son and successor, Alexander Hume, does not 

 appear to have had the consuming desire for the welfare of 

 his tenantry which characterised the ex-captain. 

 * Knox's Tour, pp. 158-163. 



